12/21/24
July 13, 2008
Bobby Murcer, 62, Yankee on Field and Air, Dies : Bobby Murcer, the Yankees' All-Star outfielder and longtime broadcaster who never became another Mickey Mantle, but endeared himself to Yankee fans in a baseball career of over four decades died Saturday in Oklahoma City.
posted by tommytrump to baseball at 05:11 PM - 7 comments
Bobby Murcer is, was, and always will be, one of the names that just goes with "Yankees." No, he wasn't the player Mantle or DiMaggio were, but in the '70s, he was the man. I had the opportunity to meet him and talk briefly with him a bunch of times in the past several years and everything people and players were saying about him are absolutely true. He was just a nice guy, seemingly to everyone (including a average joe-schmuck like me); smiling, courteous, and genuine. I watched the specials all morning on YES and to see guys like Girardi get that broken up about someone really says a lot. I was hoping to have Murcer around for many more years. I feel the same as you, goddam, Murcer, just like Rizzuto before him, seemed like a friend. Rest in Peace, Bobby.
posted by dyams at 07:56 PM on July 13, 2008
I had some hope when he was doing better earlier in the year, but knew recent news wasn't good. Cancer sucks. Some more on Murcer's career. Good to see you back dyams.
posted by justgary at 08:53 PM on July 13, 2008
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posted by BornIcon at 07:23 AM on July 14, 2008
My friends and I went to see the Yankees play a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. It was a memorable day, the kind of day you talk about forever. We were so young and it was so long ago that sometimes I question whether my memory was accurate. We were sitting near the player wives (did we sneak down?) and I remember Connie Bahnsen's expression when her husband Stan Bahnsen got into a fight. Did she even exist? Someone threw an ash can firework at catcher Ray Fosse. Tony Horton crawled back to the dugout after striking out on Steve Hamilton's folly floater. Did that really happen that day? It seemed everything happened in those two games. One thing that did happen, though it seems almost mythical, is that Bobby Murcer hit four home runs in a row that day. He may not have been Mantle. But he sure was a great Yankee.
posted by BxBruce at 10:30 AM on July 14, 2008
Bobby Murcer was part of the good years. It hurts to lose another part of them, particularly to that bastard cancer.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 12:36 PM on July 14, 2008
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posted by irunfromclones at 12:42 PM on July 14, 2008
This is a tough one. I was pretty broken up about Rizzuto last year, but Bobby was almost like a friend. I know that sounds like an exaggeration but it's true. I have vague memories of the tail end of his playing days (but I'm well aware of his place in Yankees history.) I mostly know him as a broadcaster. He had this "Aww shucks" quality to in his Oklahoma drawl. Made his in-game storytelling that much more enjoyable for me. I'm not sure what else to say that hasn't already been said in the past day. He will be missed by a lot of people in this game. Here are a few more links. Players quotes Quotes from colleagues and former players. Sam Borden column